Salute The Don, Dream Catcher to collide in Futurity race

The Jamaica 1000 and 2000 Guineas Classic races proved who had speed but this afternoon the Jamaica St Leger will prove who has heart. Over the demanding two-turn test, the pretenders will fade and the champion will stand tall.

This year, for the 100th running of the native-bred three-year-olds Futurity contest, all roads lead to two names —
Dream Catcher, winner of the 1000 Guineas, and Salute The Don, winner of the 2000 Guineas — and both are chasing Triple Crown dreams. Win here, and the Derby door swings wide open. But the St Leger won’t be handed to anyone.

Dream Catcher lived up to her name on June 6 in capturing the 1000 Guineas with pure class, and she’s been proving her superiority since. This is her toughest exam yet though — colts and geldings, 10 furlongs, and Triple Crown pressure.

But breeding says she’ll love two turns. If she stays, she’s dangerous all the way to the line. Class horses don’t fear distance. Dream Catcher is bred by Bern Identity out of the Legal Process mare Double Jeopardy. Tevin Foster will ride for champion trainer Jason DaCosta.

The Gary Subratie-conditioned Salute The Don (Aveenu Malcainu – Abicadabby) answered every doubt in the 2000 Guineas on June 7. They called him a sprinter but he turned the tables on stablemate Stardom to win.

Salute The Don has raced seven times and he is never worse than third. He beat Stardom by ¾ length in the 2000 Guineas after being second to him in The Kingston. That’s resilience. That’s St Leger stuff. He’s shown the stamina — now he has to show it again as champion jockey Raddesh Roman remains in the saddle.

But neither gets a free pass and don’t forget Stardom, he entered the 2000 Guineas as favourite after winning The Kingston. Stardom, who is bred by Sensational Slam – Trinket Box, relishes longer trips and this two-turn race is right up his alley.

Salute The Don got him last time, but 10 furlongs is Stardom’s song. Expect him to be finishing best of all, grinding them down late. Dane Dawkins will continue to ride.

And then there’s We Jammin, last year’s champion two-year-old. He missed the 2000 Guineas with injury, but he’s timed his return perfectly for this. He’s already beaten these and if he’s 100 per cent fit, he’s the wildcard who can blow this race open. Reyan Lewis will ride We Jammin for trainer Peter-John Parsard.

This St Leger really and truly comes down to these four horses. Dream Catcher has the class, Salute The Don has the heart, Stardom has the stamina, and We Jammin has the raw talent — if fit and this should be a titanium tussle from start to finish.

The race is positioned as the 10th and final event on the day with a post time of 5:40 pm. First race is at 11:50 am.

Looking at the rest of the runners in the 13-horse field, probably Senor Biscotti, Mohanlal, and Strong Aveenu can get into the mix of things.

Sensor Biscotti was outpaced in the 2000 Guineas but this 10 furlongs is what he was bred for. Settle him early and he’s a sneaky place chance at odds.

Mohanlal was fourth in the 2000 Guineas and his pedigree screams “stayer”. He is bred by Causal Trick – Raise Your Voice and he’ll enjoy the extra distance and could outstay fancied runners late.

Strong Aveenu was third in the 2000 Guineas after a dogfight in deep stretch. He’s an improving grinder; he won’t have Dream Catcher’s burst, but he’ll keep coming.

Ones to watch:

Race 1) Jayden’s Choice/Golden Ambassador/Prosperity Sen

Race 2) Goodbye Firefly/Whisky/California Gold

Race 3) Password/Diamond Rock/Silent Cat

Race 4) Midnight Galaxy/Titan Tempo/She’s Adorable

Race 5) Bangarang/Prince Kazaire/Bubbling Warrior

Race 6) Modern Monarch/Moonlight Song/Super Storm

Race 7) Eye of the Tiger/Manoletti Majestic/Rockhampton

Race 8) Rocket Fire Seb/Danka/Brahma Bull

Race 9) Dothraki/Linguist/Another One

Race 10) Stardom/We Jammin/Dream Catcher